NORMAN, OKLA. - The University of Oklahoma has been selected to join the U.S. Space Command's Academic Engagement Enterprise. This program fosters collaboration between the Space Command's enterprise and academic institutions to cultivate space-focused research, innovation and education.
"By partnering with the U.S. Space Command, the University of Oklahoma continues to showcase our commitment to the defense and security of our nation," said OU Vice President of Research and Partnerships Tomás Díaz de la Rubia. "This collaboration marks a significant milestone in OU's dedication to advancing space and defense technologies and grants our programs access to an extensive network of resources, expertise and opportunities for the future of space security and innovation."
OU's Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Innovation Institute will lead the effort by leveraging its expertise in addressing aerospace, defense and global security challenges alongside OU's Advanced Radar Research Center, Gallogly College of Engineering and Center for Intelligence and National Security.
By focusing on several key areas critical to the future of space exploration and defense, including space situational awareness, space access and resilience and space warfighting, this program will support OU's research along the enterprise's 38 stated academic research topics.
"As a member of the AEE, OU will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research, collaborate with industry leaders and government agencies, and prepare the next generation of space professionals," said Gen (ret.) Robin Rand, executive director of OU's Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Innovation Institute. "Through these partnerships and initiatives, OU students, faculty and researchers will gain invaluable experience and insights into the rapidly evolving field of space exploration and defense."
Additional academic contributions include Price College of Business's first-of-its-kind Graduate Certificate in Commercial Space Applications through its Executive MBA in Aerospace and Defense degree and the Data Science and Analytics Institute's undergraduate and advanced degrees in data science. OU's School of Meteorology and the OU-led NSF AI Institute for Research on Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence in Environmental Sciences further showcase the university's national and global research expertise.
